Worldviews in Romeo and Juliet

Summary: Characters in plays and novels can be described as having worldviews, which help shape their environment and help them respond to situations. It also shows that worldviews are an important part of life, as they can sometimes influence the lives of other people.

Worldviews can be defined as "the overall perspective from which one sees and interprets the world." (http://dictionary.reference.com) They can be formed in many ways, but generally we tend to form worldviews from those around us- family and friends. We look at what they believe and the culture around us. We use these worldviews to relate to the world around us and to respond to circumstances in which we can find ourselves. Characters in plays and novels can also be described as having worldviews, which are shaped by their environment. They also respond to situations based on their beliefs. Characters such as Capulet and Mercutio in Romeo and Juliet and Shylock and Antonio in Merchant of Venice use their worldviews to respond to situations in the plays. An analysis of each text and each character can identify these beliefs and responses as seen in their thoughts...